June 19, 2013

Unwanted furniture to find new homes July 26; volunteers needed

Manhattan Good Neighbors and the city of Manhattan are hosting the fifth annual Furniture Amnesty Day on Friday, July 26. The event will take place at the Wilson baseball fields parking lot in Manhattan's City Park.

Furniture Amnesty Day is a chance for the public to donate their unwanted furniture to those who may need it. This event serves as a friendly reminder and encourages students and community members to properly dispose of their household items and keep furniture out of landfills as a result.

"Each year this recycling, reuse event has grown," said Lynda Bachelor, project coordinator for K-State’s School of Leadership Studies. "We touched more than 200 households last year and anticipate that number to increase this year."

The public is invited to drop off furniture from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. If you would like to donate your furniture but are unable to drop it off, contact the city to schedule a pick up on the day of the event. Email Schooley@cityofmhk.com or call 785-587-2408 for arrangements. There are a limited number of pick-up times, so call early. For those wanting furniture, selection is from noon to 5 p.m.

"We have been receiving phone calls about this event since the middle of May," Bachelor said. "Because of the anticipated increase in participation, we are seeking about 40 volunteers to assist in this day-long event." Volunteers are encouraged to sign up online at the HandsOn Kansas State website, www.handson.ksu.edu or email mgn@k-state.edu.

Manhattan Good Neighbors is a part of HandsOn Kansas State, which is a program of the School of Leadership Studies at Kansas State University that creates opportunities for people to volunteer, learn and lead in their communities. Manhattan Good Neighbors specifically focuses on neighborhoods around the K-State campus and allows students and permanent residents to build and maintain positive relationships through service.

If you would like more information about Furniture Amnesty Day, please call School of Leadership Studies at 785-532-6085 or email mgn@k-state.edu.